49ers sound done with Jimmy Garoppolo before NFL Draft

It appears that Jimmy Garoppolo’s days with the 49ers are numbered. During a pre-draft press conference Monday, 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were cryptic as they

It appears that Jimmy Garoppolo’s days with the 49ers are numbered.

During a pre-draft press conference Monday, 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were cryptic as they discussed Garoppolo’s status with the organization.

Speculation about Garoppolo’s future began in late March when the 49ers acquired the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft from the Dolphins, who then traded the No. 12 pick to the Eagles. But, following the trade, the organization maintained that they had no plans to trade Garoppolo, their quarterback since 2017.

“We could have sat there at 12, and waited [for] which [quarterback] came to us, if one did,” Shanahan told reporters Monday. “But we made a decision that we felt we needed to get a starting QB. We wanted to dictate it. We’ll get the one that we feel is best for us.”

Shanahan added that they had one quarterback in mind to take with the third-overall pick, but after going through the process the organization now has its’ eyes on “about five.” He neglected to say any prospect names.

Asked if he can guarantee Garoppolo, 29, will be on the roster come Sunday, Shanahan was vague.

“I can’t guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive Sunday,” he said.

Jimmy Garoppolo (l.) with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Trevor Lawrence is widely expected to be taken No. 1 by the Jaguars, and the Jets are likely to take Zach Wilson at No. 2. NFL Network reported that the Niners’ decision is down to Mac Jones and Trey Lance, with Justin Fields seemingly out of the running.

Lynch said that Shanahan is their play-caller, which means he will always defer to the head coach when it comes to quarterbacks.

“Jimmy’s been a pro,” Lynch told reporters. “I just spoke to him over the weekend. He’s here, he’s taking part in our virtual meetings, planning on being at the workouts and Jimmy’s been completely professional.”

Garoppolo, who has two years left on his contract and is set to count for over $26 million against the team’s cap in 2021, came to San Francisco in a trade from the Patriots in October 2017. His dead cap would be under $3 million with a trade or release, and less than $1.5 million in 2022.

In 2020, Garoppolo re-aggravated is high-ankle sprain and was placed on injured reserve in November. He began practicing with the team again but the 49ers didn’t activate him before the end of the season. Garoppolo played in just three games in 2018 after tearing his ACL in Week 3.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Mollie Walker